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Ubisoft released a Q&A by creative director Jean Guesdon which answers most/all of your questions and what players can expect from Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag.
1. Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag is a project developed by world-wide studios. Who leads the development and how do you coordinate within all these studios?
Ubisoft Montreal is the lead studio for ACIVBF but it's a real co-production with other studios Ubisoft Singapore, Ubisoft Sofia, Ubisoft Québec for the Single Player and Ubisoft Annecy and Bucharest for the Multiplayer part.
We are extremely efficient with this kind of process now. Multiple studios have been involved in parallel on AC games starting since AC2.
We've put in place a dedicated team to ensure the best possible communication with tools and processes to make sure that everybody knows what he has to deliver.
2. What is the story of Assassin's Creed IV Black Flag? Where does it take place?
ACIVBF tells the story of Edward Kenway, a young British man that left the navy to embrace piracy during the final decade of the Golden Age of Piracy in the West Indies (now known as the Caribbean).
Edward will be thrown in the middle of the ancient war between Templars and Assassins. He will be trained by them and finally become the first Kenway member of the Assassin Order. He's the father of Haytham, Connor is therefore Edward's grandson
3. What are the forces at play? What is the Templar's role in the story? The Assassins?
ACIVBF, like any other Assassin Game tells the secret story, the true story behind events of our history that shaped the world. Behind the War between English and Spanish, between Empires and Pirates there was also the secret war between Templars and Assassins.
In ACIVBF Templars are looking for a mysterious place that, as rumors say, could give them a strong advantage against their eternal enemies, the Assassins, in order to achieve their goal of human domination. But Assassins are everywhere and they'll carefully make sure that such a plan is not realized. Edward will be their more important asset to do so.
4. The Golden Age of Piracy and legendary pirates have been much fantasized in people's mind by recent entertainment, How is this period treated in the game?
The Assassin Creed franchise has been praised for its efforts to depict history as realistically as it can be and ACIVBF will not change that.
We feel that Assassin Creed is the perfect vehicle to tell the TRUE story of piracy, far from the "cliché" fantasy one.
We have the ambition to respect that time period and its characters and show our audience what being a pirate meant.
It wasn't an amusement park, neither it was taking place under big dark grey clouds.
It's a story about men and women trying to survive far from their homeland in precarious conditions but full of hope in better tomorrows.
Men and women that, for a certain time, and against Big Empires have bond together to create what they thought could become a distinct society.
5. For those who don't really know what the Golden Age of Piracy is exactly, could you summarize the key historical episode quickly?
They are several major phases in piracy history but the Golden Age we're depicting in the game spans approximately a decade, starting around 1715.
These years followed the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713 that ended war between the main European powers (Spain, Great Britain, France, Portugal and Dutch Republic).
At that moment, most sailors from these countries became unemployed and a lot of men preferred to become outlaws and PIRATES rather than staying under their respective crowns.
The Caribbean seas were navigated by massive galleons full of precious metals and goods; the weather was generally accommodating and even if live was hard these men were FREE.
One major event occurred in 1715 with the massive wreckage of the Golden Fleet. Eleven galleons full of gold were smashed against the Florida coast by a Hurricane. This triggered a Gold Rush that brought many pirates to the region. They decided to establish their base in New Providence – Bahamas, better known today as Nassau.
In Nassau they tried to create what could be seen as one of the first prototype of a democratic society with fewer distinctions based on race or sex.
6. Can you introduce us to the new protagonist, Edward Kenway? What is his back story? His personality?
Edward Kenway is a young, brash Welshman born to an English Father and Welsh mother. He is charismatic and clever, but has a recklessness that borders on pathological. He is generally kind, but naturally selfish, and has a habit of valuing his own ludicrous ideas long before he will consider sensible or rational approaches to any problem. And he enjoys his drink, much to the detriment of his vital organs.
By the time Edward was in his early teens his family had moved to Bristol in the south East of England where he eventually met and married a woman two years his senior, the lovely and stable Caroline Scott. By all accounts the marriage was a lively one, but Caroline soon grew tired of Edward's inability to find steady work or take his responsibilities as a husband seriously. But it was Edward's grandiose ideas about sailing as a privateer in the West Indies and earning a fortune in gold that eventually disrupted what should otherwise have been a happy marriage.
Caroline eventually left Edward to return to her family's modest home, leaving Edward alone with his bitter ambitions. But — much to everyone's surprise – made good on this one promise. In late 1712, he boarded a ship and set sail for Jamaica to sail with renowned privateer, Benjamin Hornigold. And here he would remain for six months, until history threw Edward and his company another complication: Peace broke out.
In 1713, the treaty of Utrecht effectively ended all conflict between the major empires. British Privateers were no longer needed or indeed tolerated in the West Indies, causing thousands of previously active sailors to find themselves out of work. Not the most ideal situation for these young and restless men … for as the old saying goes, "Idle hands are the Devil's workshop…" And indeed, in the following years, Edward, and so many of his bretheren would find the Devil's work far more attractive than their King's…
7. Is Edward Kenway a pirate as well as an assassin? How do both of his identities fit together and how will he deal with them?
From the opening moments of ACIVBF, Edward is an experienced privateer-turned-pirate, with a taste for danger and adventure. He is both a skilled sailor and seasoned fighter, but he fights for no cause but his own. However, events occuring early in our story lead Edward right into the heard of the Assassin / Templar conspiracy, a conflict in which he will play a vital role. Without saying more, we can definitely say that Edward Kenway is one of the most uniquely conflicted heroes in the Assassin's Creed franchise to date.
8. What can you tell us of Edward's skills? How is this reflected in navigation, combat and stealth?
By 1715, Edward has already been a sailor for 2 years, an experience that has given him a taste for all the dangers and excitements to be found at sea. He can reef a sail, weigh an anchor, and swab a deck as any average sailor must. He has also developed extraordinary sense of balance and talent for climbing, even under the harshest conditions – "every finger's a fishhook" as sailors of old were known to say.
Edward is also no stranger to combat, typically against the Spanish navy and merchants, having been a privateer for the English crown prior to his dip into piracy. By the time our game opens, Edward Kenway has seen and faced more than his fair share of violence and turmoil – enough to make a man cynical and suspicious of the world and everyone in it.
Temperamentally, Edward is efficient, lethal and brash, and always looking towards the finish line. This combination can be easily seen in the fight system. Edward uses dual swords and multi-pistols as his main arsenal. Proper chaining of these weapons allows him to kill very quickly and efficiently a big group of enemies. During a boarding sequence this is necessary for success.
Stealth wise, Edward's brash behaviour gives him new ingredients to play with. Using people's homes (hiding doors) to evade patrols, hiring prostitutes to distract guards and getting drunk pirates to do some dirty fighting for him.
9. What are the different weapons Edward will be using on his missions?
Edward's main arsenals are the dual swords and multi-pistols. The multi-pistols are a tool that can be combined with any other weapon to have insane kill counts. Besides this Edward also gets a blowpipe with multiple effect darts, the double hidden blades (AC classic) and is able to use all the weapons enemies carry (Rifles, single sword, knives and Heavy Axe). The Rope Dart will also make a return.
But another element of Edward is The Jackdaw, his Ship. This will also receive new weapons as the game progresses. These include the Round shot (base weapons), Heat shot (shotgun like weapon), Mines, Mortar, Swivel guns, Chain shot and Ram!
10. What can you tell us of the scope of the game? Is it comparable to ACIII?
You know, we don't really craft a game comparing its size to previous ones. ACIVBF will be significantly different from any previous AC games. The global world is bigger but its structure is totally different and will allow us to visit more than 50 (fifty) locations.
The "main path", the story of the game, will be around the same amplitude than AC3 and the world will be filled with new gameplays and things to do.
So I would definitely say that this adventure will provide to the players one of the most appealing and diversified playground ever seen.
11. In AC3, the world was beautiful and rich with things to do, but a lot of gameplay systems weren't attractive or not introduced properly. In ACIVBF, how are you making sure the player has a fun, intelligent and progressive experience from start to end?
AC is a great franchise that allows us to learn from previous iterations. We've identified some areas of improvements and will definitely make sure that all systems are properly introduced and relevant to the player's own motivations.
We're not the legacy of AC3 only but of all previous AC games and we spent a lot of time analysing the best things we could use from all of them.
12. Assassin's Creed's gameplay heritage was mainly set on land. With ACIII, you introduced some naval missions without making it a central piece of the game. With ACIVBF being set in the Caribbean, how will you be balancing sea and land?
Our main ambition with that game is to deliver a TRUE PIRATE GAME, which means ONE, SINGLE, UNIFIED GAME using both naval and ground gameplay.
Players will obviously be able to attack, board and plunder ships at sea but a LOT of activities will be set on ground.
From attacking plantations, exploring shipwrecks, debunking smugglers from their caves, discovering Mayan ruins without forgetting our 3 main cities Havana, Nassau and Kingston.
The "pirate loop" will require the mastery of both naval and ground gameplay to be able to continue exploration in the world and progression of the character.
13. Is land gameplay (combat, free-running, exploration) still a key component of the game?
This game is not only a naval game. Yes, the naval component, based on the successful first iteration in AC3, will be a key part of it but the ground/land gameplay remains important as it is one of the pillars of the AC franchise.
Free-running, social stealth and combat are still the key pillars of our ground experience but are also used (free-running and combat) in the boarding sequences of ships.
Fans will recognize what they liked J
14. What is the percentage split between land and sea missions?
Mission wise, land missions will represent approximately 60% of the game and naval ones 40%. But if you take the global experience that players will leave with ACIVBF we're more talking about 50-50.
The Seamless, systemic open-world system (Horizon System) packed full of sea and underwater activities will represent a big part of the game.
15. Stealth was once a key element in the Assassin's Creed franchise, but that has become less and less prevalent in recent games. How much stealth is there in ACIVBF?
We are putting a lot of effort to improve that pillar of the franchise.
Being a pirate was also about taking places by surprise, and this would require stealth abilities.
So yes, stealth will be back in ACIVBF. Infiltrations, tails and exploration of islands are all part of it.
16. How are you making sure players can play the game stealthily (like an assassin should do) while having freedom of choice when tackling each situation?
In ACIVBF we are making sure that the Level Design not only support but encourage stealth. We're working hard at providing missions and environments that always allow the player to choose this type of play.
17. What is the "horizon system" and how will it work in the game? How will you make sure the sea is breathing with interesting opportunities for the player? Can you give us examples?
At any given moment in the game when you are aboard your ship you can take out your spyglass and survey the world. The Horizon system ensures that you will always have 2 or 3 pirate "opportunities" available to you. That could be a merchant ship convoy to rob, a whale to hunt, fellow pirates to rescue… the list goes on. These opportunities happen systemically and evolve based on your progress, meaning that every player's experience will be different. It means that if you love the naval experience you can play it as much as you want, being constantly and variably challenged outside the main story path.
18. You mention that Edward's ship, the Jackdaw, can be looked at as a 2nd hero in the game. Can you explain what you mean by that?
We consider the Jackdaw as a 2nd main hero for a very simple reason: Global progression of the player will rely on both Edward's progression as a man and an assassin and Jackdaw's progression as a vessel that allows Edward to access new territories and defeat stronger and stronger enemies.
If the Jackdaw doesn't progress, Edward doesn't either. Both can't be separated, they form the two faces of one game (naval and the ground) merged into one unified destiny.
19. How are you improving the ship's control when navigating and combating?
To give a fulfilling progression system with the Jackdaw we decided very early on that we needed a lot more depth in the gameplay potential of the Naval experience while at the same time keeping it easy to understand.
Firstly, we completely overhauled the ocean physics system so that the navigation feels more intense, realistic and fun. You feel it when the wind picks up and yours sails are full. You feel the weight of the ship when riding up a huge wave and then the speed boost riding down when you crash through the crest. Raising and lowering the sails has much more impact. Due to this, storms are much more intense and have a big impact on navigating the ship!
In AC3 the combat system was mostly about timing your shot, now in ACIVBF we have a trajectory based aiming system where the player is challenged on reading the distance and speed of the enemy to get that perfect hit. This is the most basic element of the combat system. We have 5 new weapons that all have their own unique functions and attributes. This is further enhanced and given more depth with 6 unique AI Behaviors that challenge and put pressure on the player to master the system.
20. Will we get a chance to meet some historical pirates? Will Blackbeard be in the game?
Not only have we chosen this time period for the real importance of the pirates' attempt at democracy in the Bahamas but also, obviously because it provided us an incredible cast to play with.
Edward, being one of the fiercest pirates of the time will have the opportunity to meet many of the legendary ones.
Blackbeard, Benjamin Hornigold, Charles Vane, Calico Jack Rackham, Bartholomew Roberts will all be part of the game and you will fight alongside (and in some cases against) all of them.
21. Is ACIVBF a next gen game? What's the difference between the Next Gen version and the PS3/Xbox 360 version?
ACIVBF will also be available on Next Gen consoles. In addition to improved graphics and physic, Next Gen versions will bring to the players new connected features allowing them to feel that even if they remain "Single Player" it will be better to be a "Single Connected Player". I mean, that Next Gen Consoles will allow players to have a solo experience that benefit the presence of a huge community.
22. Will Desmond be in the game?
Desmond has been the main protagonist of the franchise so far. This won't be the case in ACIVBF. That being said ACIVBF is not a reboot, neither is it a spinoff and we're continuing to develop a consistent mythology. So yes, Desmond will be referred to as a very important legacy of the AC universe.
23. What is Abstergo Entertainment? And what can we expect of the present sequences?
Abstergo Entertainment is a subset of the Abstergo conglomerate. It's a division specialised in Entertainment providing historical content for games or movies. Abstergo Entertainment has worked closely with Ubisoft to deliver Assassin's Creed Liberation on the PSVita Platform and also The Multiplayer of Assassin's Creed III.
Abstergo Entertainment is ACIVBF present playground and players will be immersed like never before IN the AC universe. They will become part of the AC universe, able to meet some already known protagonists of the AC franchise.
24. As the Creative Director, can you tell us of what are the key challenges you are facing when developing ACIVBF?
I would list 3 main key challenges:
– Delivering the first true realistic & fun naval open world game.
– Delivering the first true realistic pirate game while staying true to the pillars of the AC franchise.
– Keeping a strong vision of the game and making sure that all teams around the world understand it and want to deliver it.
25. Ultimately, what is your objective with ACIVBF? And what's the "take away" you want players to have when they finish the game?
Ultimately my objective with ACIVBF is to provide a very good, polished and fun game that players will enjoy as much as we enjoy creating it. I would be thrilled to receive testimonies telling us that the way we're depicting this period in history helped some of our audience to realize what the Golden Age of Piracy was really like.
Pre-order Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag
Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag will launch on October 29th in the US, and November 1st everywhere else for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, PC and Wii U.
You can like our page on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, or add us to your circle on Google+ to keep yourself updated on all the latest news around the web.


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Notice of Award Status
The agency chose not to make an award under this solicitation.
NIJ seeks proposals for research to evaluate the use of police and technology in schools. The proposed research should be comprehensive and include assessment of aspects such as school ecology, culture, climate, and social capital in addition to outcomes and other impacts. Logic models should be provided and include assessment of implementation processes and outputs and proximal and distal outcomes. A cost-benefit component should be included as part of the proposed research design. Multi-method, multi-measurement, and multiple year projects will be given priority in funding. Administrative agreements with participating school districts are required and should be provided in the funding application.

subset: commoncrawl


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The global flavor and fragrance market is expected to experience good growth and reach $2.06 billion by 2018, according to market research firm Lucintel.
In "Global Flavor and Fragrance Market 2013-2018: Trend, Forecast, and Opportunity Analysis," Lucintel said North America and Europe were the largest regions in terms of consumption of flavor and fragrance, followed by Asia Pacific and the rest of the world, which hold the third and fourth place respectively. Fragrance contributed 52% of the market share, whereas flavor contributed 48% of the global revenue to the global flavor and fragrance industry.
The report indicated that although the recession has impacted the U.S. flavor and fragrance market, it is currently recovering well. Brazil is the world's largest market for fine fragrance which is used in deodorants and baby care products. It also noted that Asia was one of the emerging regions for flavor and fragrance industry during last five years.


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By William A. Thomas
DUBLIN, DEC. 19, 2012 (Zenit.org).- Described as spectacular and the most international and ecumenical Patristic conference ever held in Ireland, the 'Eighth International Patristic Conference' recently concluded at Saint Patricks College in Maynooth. Delegates came from Greece, Russia, Finland, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Poland, Italy, and Spain. Many of the them were Greek or Russian Orthodox, while others were Anglican and Catholic, but all have one thing in common, their love for the Fathers of the Church, both the Latin and Greek Fathers. The Fathers can be after all a fruitful meeting place for dialogue and encounter among the different ecclesial communities of the world.
The theme of this conference was the 'Beauty of God's Presence in the Fathers' and its significance in creation, in Christ, in sacred scripture, in the sacraments, in prayer and in sacred liturgy. The first speaker of the conference was Professor Finbarr Clancy S.J who presented the allegorical imagery of 'the pearl of great price' in the Fathers. In Patristic literature, the pearl of great beauty and the mysteries of faith were associated with the mystery of Christ himself, the Scriptures, the Creed and the doctrinal patrimony of the Church. The piercing of a pearl by a jeweller, for example, was associated by the Fathers with the piercing of Christ on the Cross.
Dr. Peter Brooke presented the theological basis of Orthodox iconography, which was upheld by the Seventh Ecumenical Council, in 787 A.D. in Nicaea which was also known as the Second Council of Nicaea and endorsed by Pope Adrian I. The Council proclaimed that "Icons are to be kept in churches and honored with the same relative veneration as is shown to other material symbols, such as the 'precious and life-giving Cross' and the Book of the Gospels. The 'doctrine of icons' is tied to the Orthodox teaching that all of God's creation is to be redeemed and glorified, both spiritual and material However, later on he pointed out the Council of Florence in 1431 denied the theological importance of iconography. Brooke argues that this was an effort on the part of the Franks to assert their authority against that of Rome, as represented not only by the Roman Emperor in Constantinople, but also by the Pope himself.
Three presentations focused on the Beauty of God as found in the soul according to Gregory of Nyssa. (335-395) Dr. Miguel Brugarolas, adjunct professor of Patristics at the University of Navarra in Spain spoke on Gregory's Commentary on the Song of Songs 5:2; Father Miguel explained that for Gregory the Song of Songs also known as the Canticle of Canticles was "a journey par excellence fraught with hazards which are more perilous since they affect the very constitution of our souls. Here the likeness of a ship voyage which passes over the 'horizontal' ocean is transformed into a 'vertical' one where we ascend in our journey towards God aided by the Holy Spirit who "puts into motion the wave of our thoughts." Theoria or contemplation is that vehicle or ship enabling us to accomplish our voyage."
Dr. Ilaria Ramelli's (Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Milano) paper was on Beauty and Goodness in Gregory, understood in relation to Harmony and Unity; "Considering this, it seems possible that Gregory was familiar with Plotinus and perhaps other figures in Neo-Platonism. However, some significant differences between Neo-Platonism and Gregory's thought exist, such as Gregory's statement that beauty and goodness are equivalent, which contrasts with Plotinus' view that they are two."
The Russian Hieromonk Kirill Zinkovskiy's paper took as its theme the importance of the terminology that Gregory used to express the transformation of the Eucharistic Gifts into the Body and Blood of Christ. "He offered Himself for us, Victim and Sacrifice, and Priest as well, and 'Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.' When did He do this? When He made His own Body food and His own Blood drink for His disciples; for this much is clear enough to anyone, that a sheep cannot be eaten by a man unless it's being eaten be preceded by its being slaughtered. This giving of His Body to His disciples for eating clearly indicates that the sacrifice of the Lamb has now been completed." (Quotation from Saint Gregory)
Another exciting paper was presented by doctoral student Karoliina Maria Schauman of the Abo Akademi University in Turku in Finland. In this paper she presents the 'Beauty of the Light of God in Saint Symeon,' the so called "New Theologian." Having difficulty describing in human language his encounter with God, Saint Symeon "spoke and wrote tirelessly about the Divine Light, especially that the Light he often experienced intimately, is personal, i.e., not some form of created luminous radiance, but the divine Person of God Himself. At some point he actually received clear confirmation of this as an answer to his question concerning the Divine Light's character and identity: "It is me, God, Who became man for you; and behold that I have made you, as you see, and shall make you god." He sometimes called the Light the Father, the Holy Spirit, or the Holy Trinity. He also wrote that the Divine Light embodies God's Energies and His Divine Grace. However, most of the time Symeon felt that the Light is the Son, as Christ Himself had stated. It makes sense to conclude that, in his very frequent ecstatic experiences of the Divine, Symeon came face to face with different aspects of God, all manifesting within the Divine Light. Yet he insisted that the Divine Light could not be described because of its transcendent character: "It [the Light] suddenly shows itself completely within me, a spherical light, gentle and divine, with form, with shape, in a formless form"
The renowned scholar, Dr. Janet Rutherford spoke about the special understanding of the nature of allegory as used by the Alexandrian fathers in their writings on Scripture, prayer, and also liturgy. Since the Alexandrian Eucharistic Prayer was the basis of both Eastern and Western Eucharistic prayers, knowing the significance of their understanding of Eucharistic Real Presence is important not only for individual Christian traditions, but also for ecumenical discussion. Professor Andrew Smith of UCD's Classics Department gave an extraordinary presentation on the 'Beauty of Intellect' in the writings of Plotinus "eternity," he said "is certainly akin to beauty and the eternal nature is the first to be beautiful and all that proceeds from it is beautiful."
Other presentations that indicate the wealth of the conference were given by Dr. Eirini Artemi, of the University of Athens, who spoke on the Presence of God in the interpretation of the Psalms by Cyril of Alexandria; Rev. Dr. Marcin Wysocki of Lublin University in Poland on the Presence of God in the Martyrs in Tertullian and Cyprian; Dr Catherine Kavanagh, Mary Immaculate College, Limerick on Eriugena and Maximus Confessor. The conference was fittingly concluded by Dr Susan Cremin's presentation on St John and the Bosom of the Lord in Patristic and Insular Tradition
Given that so much of Pope Benedict XVI's own thought, and his vision of the New Evangelization is based on the writings of the Fathers (and particularly their understanding of liturgical and artistic beauty), it is particularly welcome that the Symposium's Eighth triennial conference took as its theme such an important subject.
The Conference was further enhanced by including the launch of a special Symposium volume, The Mystery of Christ in the Fathers of the Church: Essays in Honour of D. Vincent Twomey SVD (Janet E. Rutherford and David Woods eds.). Father Vincent Twomey was the founder of the Patristic Symposium and is currently its Honorary President. The editors and executive committee were very grateful to have the volume presented to Father Vincent by the Rt. Reverend Richard Clarke, Angl
ican Bishop of Meath and Kildare. The Bishop was congratulated by the Conference on his appointment as Church of Ireland, Archbishop designate of Armagh, where he will soon be enthroned as Anglican Primate of All Ireland. The Mystery of Christ in the Fathers of the Church is an important volume in its own right, and ought also to find a place in all Seminaries, Theological Colleges, and Universities.
The Maynooth Patristic Symposium has thus become in itself a 'pearl of great price', and worthy of the support of all who take the living Patristic tradition seriously. It would be ideal for serious study of Patristics and worthy of note for all students and establishments.
— — —
On the NET:
For more information about the Symposium and future Conferences; please contact Dr. Janet Rutherford at email@example.com. Details of all the Symposium volumes can be found on the website of Four Courts Press Dublin, and purchased there.


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Second production features an all-women cast
Saint Paul, Minn., December 18, 2018 – Park Square Theatre announces the second production of ANTIGONE adapted and directed by MJ Kedrowski. The play is adapted in modern language from the Greek tragedy by Sophocles and brought to life by an all-woman ensemble of actors who work with Kedrowski to devise the script and action. "I've always been drawn to classic Greek theatre," said Kedrowski. "The dramatic stakes are so high, and the lessons are so rooted in the human experience." ANTIGONE plays on Park Square Theatre's Andy Boss Thrust Stage from February 1 to March 3, 2019, including a series of ten nearly sold out student matinees.
"Richard Cook, who programmed this piece, was moved by MJ's original production at Theatre Coup d'Etat in 2016 and thought it might be a perfect "cross-over" play that would engage both adults and school audiences," said Michael-jon Pease, Park Square Theatre's Executive Director. "His request to MJ was to see if the casting for the new production could be more racially diverse and inclusive to better align with our mission. After realizing the names they were coming up with all happened to be women, the idea of a cast of women and women-identifying actors emerged as a way to explore the feminist themes in the play and, as always, hire more diversely."
"There are several times in the original Sophocles text when people tell Antigone 'you are only a woman,' in reference to something she can't do," says Kedrowski. "I tried to keep these moments to reflect on what the culture was back then and what the culture is now. My hope is that an audience of any kind, but particularly young people, will hear this and know that they can still fight for something they think is right. No matter what their gender."
The story of ANTIGONE, the last in a trilogy by Sophocles, is rooted in civil disobedience, set in the aftermath of civil war. Oedipus' two sons have killed each other in a fight for the crown of Thebes. Their uncle Creon becomes king and declares that Eteocles will receive holy burial while his brother Polynices is left unburied to rot at the gates of the city as a warning to other traitors. Their sister Antigone can't accept this desecration. Knowing full well it will result in her own death, Antigone determines to bury Polynices, so his soul may rest.
Kedrowski was inspired by both a translation of the original Greek script and the 20th century version by Jean Anouilh. "I really love taking old works and using them as a baseline to create a new piece of theatre. Our script has many of the same characters and many of the same plot points, but we see people take a whole new path to get where they are going. And, unlike the original Greek script, where all the most dramatic action happens offstage and is told to us, we bring the action onstage for the audience to witness. We also include some of the character's backstories to build more context and empathy for the emotions that are at play."
The cast for ANTIGONE includes Lauren Diesch (Antigone), Laura Leffler (Creon), Kelly Nelson (Eteocles), Antonia Perez (Polynices), Vinecia Coleman (Haemon), Jamila Joiner (Ismene), Jamie Jachimiec (Eurydice) and an ensemble of Meredith Kind, Erin Farste, Teresa Mock and Kelly Huang.
The production team for ANTIGONE includes Sophie Peyton (Assistant Director), Jaya Robillard (Stage Manager), Kyia Britts (Lighting Designer), Morgan Groff (Costumer Designer), Sarah Modena (Sound Designer), Steve Modena (Sound Designer), Meredith Kind (Fight Choreographer), Kelly Nelson (Movement Coach), Lars Nisswandt (Silks Coach), Ruth Coughlin Lencowski (Vocal Coach), Lea Bruker (Sound Consultant), Hannah Holman (Producing Consultant), Natalia Petersen (Musician), Jo Kellen (Musician).
Ticket prices: Previews: $20-$37. Regular Run: $25-$60. Discounts are available for seniors, military personnel, those under age 30, and groups. Tickets are on sale at the Park Square ticket office, 20 W. Seventh Place, or by phone: 651.291.7005, (12 noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday), or online at www.parksquaretheatre.org. #PSTAntigone
Previews: February 1 – 7, 2019
Opening Night: February 8, 2019
Regular Run: February 8 – March 3, 2019
Tickets: Previews: $20-$37; Regular Run: $25-$60
PARK SQUARE THEATRE, 20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul
Ticket office: 651-291-7005 or www.parksquaretheatre.org
Green: 7:30pm Orange: 2:00pm
P – Preview
B – 99¢ Bargain Preview
D – Post-show Discussion
O – Opening Night
ASL –American Sign Language
AD – Audio Description
C – Open Captioning
PHOTOS Antigone photos by Petronella J Ytsma
Park Square Theatre Presents Girl Friday Production's:
The Skin of our Teeth
By THORNTON WILDER
Directed by and designed by Joel Sass
Preview: February 7- 8, 2019
Opening Night: February 9, 2019
Regular Run: February 9 – March 3, 2019
PARK SQUARE THEATRE. 20 W. Seventh Place, Saint Paul. Ticket Office: 651.291.7005. www.parksquaretheatre.org
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Men's soccer falls on road
MIDDLETOWN — The Middlebury College men's soccer team split two recent games, including dropping a key NESCAC contest at Wesleyan on Saturday, 1-0.
Middlebury, 8-4-1 overall and 5-4-1 in the NESCAC, will play a NESCAC quarterfinal playoff game on Saturday, with the time and location to be determined. The Panthers were set to conclude their regular season by hosting Plymouth State on Wednesday.
On Saturday, Wesleyan's Ben Bratt knocked home a loose ball with 14:33 to go to give the Cardinals (7-5-1, 6-3 NESCAC) the win.
The Cardinal goal came off a direct kick just inside midfield by junior Omar Bravo. The hard blast went right through the hands of the Panther goalie and was chipped past the line by Bratt when it hit the ground.
Cardinal keeper Emmett McConnell made four saves, while Middlebury's Ethan Collins stopped five shots.
On Oct. 23, Middlebury topped visiting Southern Vermont College (3-12-1), 5-0. The Panthers scored all five goals in the game's first 18:01.
Dan Skayne opened the scoring 59 seconds into the contest after a feed from Noah Goss-Woliner from the right side.
Goss-Woliner scored the first of his career at 10:14 on a rebound of a shot from Deklan Robinson
Skayne netted his second of the game at 13:41, converting a cross from Adam Glaser.
Philip Skayne made it 4-0 at 17:50, with the first of his career, with an assist from Goss-Woliner.
Glaser wrapped-up the scoring 11 seconds later, netting his NESCAC-leading eighth of the season after a Mountaineer turnover.
Middlebury finished with a 17-3 shots advantage and a 5-0 lead in corner kicks. Collins earned the win with 27:04 minutes of action, while New Haven resident John Lower made a pair of saves in 62:56 in his collegiate debut. Brendan Shea (four saves) and Chris Dunham (one save) each played a half for SVC.
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text:
I'm married to one of the most sexually exciting women in the world. We promised each other when we married that we would never let our sex life become as dull and boring as so many of our friends claimed that theirs had. For my part I bought her sexy lingerie, high heeled 'come fuck me' pumps, dildos and pressed her to have sex with me in places where the chance of being discovered was good. We oftened talked about her being fucked and gangbanged and this always got the both of us very hot.
Joy, on the other hand, went for the visual. She would behave outrageously in public to turn me on. Once at a party she pretended to be drunk and she let some guy work her into a dark corner and feel her up. She knew I was watching and so she unzipped him and took out his dick and began jacking him off. He turned her around so that his back was to the room thereby blocking what was taking place from being seen, but what he really accomplished was to put Joy where she could look over his shoulder at me. She winked and blew me kisses and then she mouthed the words, "Come over here." I did as she asked and I saw her say something in the guy's ear and then there was some quick shifting around as he hurried to get his hard dick back in his pants. I rushed her out into the attached garage and fucked her on the hood of the host and hostesses car.
Another time during the winter we had gone to an afternoon matinee at a theatre and when we sat down she opened her overcoat to reveal that she was stark naked. I put my hand on her pussy and we sat there like that through the entire movie. The guy on the other side of her didn't see much of the film. He got bold enough to place a hand on her thigh, but
even though she didn't protest he never got up the courage to go any higher. I was so hot, I fucked her in the theatre parking lot.
That night we were in a bar and I was throwing darts while Joy was shooting pool. I heard someone say, "God, would you look at that!" I turned and saw Joy standing on one foot and stretching to make a shot. Her skirt had ridden up and she wasn't wearing any panties so her pussy and ass was on display for all to see. The guys she was playing against kept losing just to keep her on the table. One guy got real daring and moved up behind her while she was stretching to take a shot and I saw her give a little lurch and smile in my direction and I knew he had put his hand on her ass. She told me later he had slid a couple of fingers into her pussy.
But Joy's most outrageous behavior took place at parties after she'd had a few drinks. Many times we would get in the car to go home and she would tell me what she had done and I'd end up pulling over and fucking her right there on the street. Guy's always thought that if they could get Joy drunk they would have a chance to get into her pants; they were totally unaware that Joy could have drunk anyone of them under the table. But Joy would let them maneuver her into dark
corners, empty rooms and the like, and she would make out with them, let them feel her up and every once in a while she would feel them up. Just when they thought they were going to get somewhere she would say that she had to go to the bathroom, or that she heard me calling for her and she would break away from them.
She often flirted with my friends and would tell me what she did with them while we fucked. Once she let Steve get both of her tits out of her dress and two fingers in her pussy while she jacked off his cock. Another time she actually had the head of Billy's cock in her mouth when she said that she heard me coming looking for her. My favorite was when she was going to let Tom stick his dick in her and get a couple of strokes before pulling away. Her panties were down around her ankles and she was bent over the porch rail and Tom had the head of his cock against her opening when he heard his wife hollered for him and she came looking for him. That is, it was my favorite until three weeks ago.
For over a year now several friends and I have been having a rotating poker game every Thursday night. There are seven of us so the game only happens at my house once every two months or so. Joy, being the only female present, was always the center of attention whenever she passed through the room. She always dresses to please (or tease) on
those night and as she serves as hostess she flirts up a storm. When the guys go home Joy and I race to bed and I just can't keep my hands off of her. Three weeks ago it was my night to host the game again and when the guys started arriving they immediately noticed that Joy wasn't there, she had gone shopping. Most of the guys showed obvious
disappointment, but Bill said, "I'm kind of glad Joy isn't here because I've got a video that I want you all to see."
He went out to his car and got the tape and then put it in my VCR. It was a porn tape entitled "Girls Who Love To Suck" and it was a two-hour tape of girls sucking off guys until they came. We were sitting on the edge of our seats and saying things like, " Oh, what a mouth" or "Jesus, look at her swallow that thing" or "That can't be real. No women has ever sucked me off like that." Tom (the same Tom that almost got to stick his dick in Joy) said, "I'd give a hundred bucks if I could find a women who would suck my dick half that good."
A voice from behind us said, "Would you give two-fifty for one twice as good?"
We all turned around and saw Joy standing there; she had come in and we hadn't heard her. Tom stood up, took out his wallet, laid two-fifty on the coffee table and dropped his pants and boxers. His erect cock dancing in front of him he said,
"You're on sweetie."
He sat down on the couch and waited to see what Joy would do. All the rest of us were watching Joy and we all expected her to turn and leave the room, but instead she walked over to the couch and knelt down between Tom's legs. All eyes in the room, including Joy's, turned to me and when I said nothing and made no move to stop things Joy said,
"You can all watch, but no touching me."
She took one last look at me and when I smiled back at her she turned and lowered her head into Tom's lap and sucked his dick into her mouth. Her mouth moved up and down on him while her hands played with his balls. She took her mouth off him and ran her tongue down the upper length of his cock until she hit the base and then she sucked on his balls before dragging her tongue up the underside. When she hit the cockhead she again swallowed his dick and started to deep throat him. She worked on him for another four minutes or so and then Tom grabbed the back of her head and held her on his cock as he arched himself up into her mouth. I saw the cum leaking out the corners of her mouth and running down her chin as she gulped and gulped and tried to swallow all of his juices.
A wad of money hit the coffee table on top of Tom's money and Jason stepped forward with his cock jutting out in front of him. Joy finished licking and cleaning off Tom's cock and then she turned to Jason and took his cock in her mouth. She reached up with both hands and grabbed him by the butt cheeks and pulled him to her and began to deep throat him. He lasted three minutes before he unloaded and again I saw cum running down Joy's chin.
Jim said, "I've only got a hundred. Will you take an IOU until tomorrow?"
Joy said, "Bring it over here baby. Let me see what you taste like."
As she sucked Jim's cock Bill and George walked up and stood next to her with their cocks out and Joy took one in each hand and began stroking them while still sucking on Jim. George was so excited that he came almost immediately and shot cum all over Joy's blouse. She took her mouth off Jim and captured George's dick and swallowed what he had left
and then she turned back to Jim. Harry stepped up and took the place George had just vacated and she began to stroke his dick. By now Tom and Jason were hard again and Joy told them to go over and sit on the couch and she would get to them when she had finished Jim, Harry and Bill. Jim was the first to shoot and Joy gulped down his load and
watching it sent Bill over the edge and he shot his cum all over the front of Joy's blouse. Joy held Bill's cock until she was done with Jim and then she turned to Bill and licked him clean and then she turned to Harry and swallowed his cock. It took her four minutes to get him off and then she turned her attention to Tom and Jason. She moved over to the couch and positioned herself so she could suck both Tom and Jason and then she alternated between them until she got them
off. Their places on the couch were taken by George and Jim and Joy worked on them until she had sucked them dry. By then Harry and Bill were hard again, but Joy said,
"Sorry guys, but it's my hubby's turn now. Tell you what. Make sure you honor those IOU's and maybe we can
do this again sometime."
During the next week every one of the guys called me and asked if we could have the next game at my place instead of going back to the usual rotation. I told them that I would have to check with Joy and I'd get back to them. When I told Joy about their calls she grinned and said,
"I must have been pretty good, but I don't know that I want to do it again, at least not anytime soon."
The next morning, just as I was getting ready to leave for work, Joy said,
"I've changed my mind. I thought about it all last night and the idea got me extremely horny. Let's do it again."
She was right about the horny part and as a result I was two hours late for work that morning.
That Thursday Joy went out of her way to tease the guys. She greeted them at the door in high heels and black lace bra and panties and before the first hour was over she was down to walking around in just her heels. The guys kept trying to feel her up as she brought us beer and chips, but she was able to dodge most of them. I made a ton of money that night (or as much as could be made playing nickel, dime, quarter and three raises) because I was the only one paying any
attention to the cards.
The guys kept wanting to throw in the cards and go after Joy, but she told them,
"You guys came over here to play cards. Any thing else that I might let happen is a bonus. I have no intention of seeing your card night turn into just a blow job night. You usually quit playing at eleven and nothing is going to happen before then," and then, just to throw them off balance, she threw in, "If anything happens at all."
Following the last hand Joy looked at all the expectant faces around the table and then said,
"Oh well, I guess I'll do it. Cut the cards to see who goes first."
The deck was shuffled and spread out on the table and every one picked a card. Harry drew the high card and Joy led him over to the couch, sat him down and knelt between his legs. She turned to look at the group and said,
"Same rules as last time. Nobody touches me and nobody touches himself. I have to be the one to get you off."
She made quick work of Harry, George and Tom and she was working on Jim who, for some reason, was having a hard time coming.
"Tell you what" he said, "Why don't you let us watch you fuck Frank (me her hubby). Maybe that will inspire me to cum."
All the guys started yelling, "Yeah, do it" and "fuck him Joy."
She looked at me and I shrugged although I do admit to having butterflies in my stomach - it would be the first time I'd ever fucked with an audience. Joy got up from where she had been kneeling in front of Jim and she lay back on the dinning room table. The table height was perfect for my cock to go straight into Joy's pussy and as I moved forward and slid into her steaming hot pussy the guys went wild and began hollering encouragement. Her legs wrapped around my waist
and the guys closed around us for a better look. I began fucking Joy with steady strokes and in only minutes I was rewarded with her first orgasm. I had expected that I would last a lot longer than I did since we had made love half an hour before the guys arrived, but having watched her strut around naked all night and suck off Harry, George and Tom I was so hot that I blew my nut just a few minutes after she had her cum.
I pulled out of Joy so she could get up and go back to sucking on Jim's cock and as I turned away from her someone bumped into me and I turned back to see Jason occupying the space I'd just vacated and his cock was already halfway into Joy. Joy's eyes opened in surprise and she looked up and saw Jason and she looked over at me as if to ask,
"What are you going to do about this?"
Before I could step in and stop things she moaned, "Oh god" and her legs came up and locked around Jason. Jason was fucking her hard now and she was being pushed across the table. She grabbed the edge of the table with both hands and pulled herself back on to Jason's cock. Jim, who had been standing off to the side, stepped up to the table and poked his cock at Joy's lips. She opened her eyes and saw the cock and opened her mouth to receive it. Bill leaned forward and began sucking on one tit while kneading the other with his hands and Joy reached out with one hand and took hold of his cock. Joy was moaning and making sucking sounds and her hips were pushing up at Jason and she pulled her mouth off of Jim and cried, "Oh yes Jason, oh god yes" and Jason grunted, "I'm gonna cum baby, I'm gonna cum" and even as he was cumming into Joy, George was pulling him out of the way.
As Jason was pulled from her he shot one last spurt of cum on her belly and then George was in her and pumping away at her pussy. The change over was so quick that I'm not even sure that Joy knew that a change had been made. George's cock was making sucking sounds as he fucked Joy as hard as he could. Joy's hand reached out and found Tom's cock
again and just before Jim shoved his cock in her mouth again she cried out and had another orgasm. Minute's later George came and collapsed on top of Joy and Jim pulled out of her mouth, hauled George out of the way and slid his cock into her. Bill took Jim's place at Joy's mouth and Tom started working on Joy's tits. Jim was fucking Joy as hard and fast as he could and in about four minutes he moaned,
"I'm cumming, I'm cumming" and Joy took her mouth off Bill and moaned,
"Give it to me baby, give it to me, shoot it in me lover, give it to me."
Harry, who had been standing off to the side, was the next to move between Joy's legs, but Joy complained that the table was causing her back to hurt. Bill and Harry helped her move to the bedroom and Bill laid down on his back. Joy got on her hands and knees and lowered her head onto his cock while Harry moved up behind her and punched his rod
into her pussy with one hard stroke. Joy moaned around Bill's dick as the cock drove into her and then she was making muffled moans and squeals as Harry pounded his cock into her. Her body shook with another orgasm as Harry shot his load in her and when he pulled out of her one last spurt from his cock hit her asshole.
Tom had moved behind her to be the next man in and the glob of cum on her asshole gave him an idea. He pushed his cock at her ass and slowly started to push in and I saw Joy's eyes go wide at the realization of what he was going to do, but as she started to take her mouth off Bill's cock to protest Bill cried out that he was cumming and he grabbed the back of Joy's head and pulled her mouth to the root of his cock while he exploded. Joy gulped and swallowed as fast as she could to keep from choking on Bill's load and by the time his cock went limp Tom was steadily stroking into Joy's asshole.
Joy began saying, "Oh god yes, fuck my ass lover, fuck my ass."
For the next hour and a half Joy was never without a cock in two of her three holes. Suddenly Jim, who was waiting for another turn said, "Shit! Why am I standing here? She's got three holes" and Joy experienced (and enjoyed) her first triple penetration. The first time Harry was leaning against the headboard with his cock in Joy's mouth while she rode up and down on Jason's cock and Jim plowed her asshole. The second time she had her ass impaled on George's cock with her back to his head and he was holding her up as she leaned back to allow Bill to pump in and out of her pussy while Jason stood to the side and fucked her mouth.
Finally it was almost three in the morning and Joy and the guys were all fucked out. The guys all stumbled out leaving a very tired Joy lying on the bed and I walked over to her with an aching cock and moved between her legs. She looked up at me and smiled,
"It's about time lover, I was beginning to think you'd lost interest in me."
I bent over and kissed her cum covered lips and then slid my cock into her well-used pussy. My dick felt so hot soaking in the pints or quarts of cum in her cunt that I couldn't help myself and I shot my cum into the collection already there. She pulled me down to her and whispered,
"You will do better tomorrow lover" and then she fell asleep.
We woke up the next morning and we both called in sick for work then stayed home all day and fucked ourselves silly. Joy told me that she had loved every minute of what had happened the night before and couldn't wait to do it again.
A woman reports a crime but it wasn't, or was it? |
- indian
- short
- ghost
- porn
- scary
- bedtime
- bdsm
- spanking
- adult
- inspirational
- funny
- love
- xxx
- cuckold
- hot
- bondage
- motivational
- horror
- moral
- black
- romantic
- bible
- wedgie
- femdom
- real wife
- diaper
- sissy
- mind control
- gangbang
- milf
- threesome
- success
- female masturbation
- christmas
- foot fetish
- erotica
- bullying
- dirty
- naughty
- taboo
- facesitting


text:
Galpharm Constipation Relief 5mg Tablets
Asda Constipation Relief Tablets
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it bontains important information for you:
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist have told you.
• Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
• Ask your pharmacist if you need more information or advice.
• If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
|1. What Asda Constipation Relief Tablets are and what they are used for
2. What you need to know before you take Asda Constipation Relief Tablets
3. How to take Asda Constipation Relief Tablets
4. Possible side effects
. How to store Asda Constipation Relief Tablets . Contents of the pack and other information
iBisacodyl belongs to a group of medicines known as stimulant laxatives. Stimulant laxatives increase bowel movements. Asda Constipation Relief Tablets are used for the short term relief of constipation. Asda Constipation Relief Tablets o not help with weight loss.
Do not take Asda Constipation Relief Tablets if you
• are allergic (hypersensitive) to bisacodyl or to any of the ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6)
• are intolerant to or cannot digest some sugars (as the tablet contains a small amount of lactose and sucrose)
• have severe dehydration
|» have a bowel condition called "ileus" (blockage in the intestine)
• have a serious abdominal condition such as appendicitis
• have severe abdominal pain with nausea and vomiting
|» have a blocked bowel (intestinal obstruction)
• have inflammation of the bowel (small or large intestine).
Do not take this medicine if any of the above applies to you. If you are not sure, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking this medicine.
Other medicines and Asda Constipation Relief Tablets
Please tell your pharmacist or doctor if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription. This includes herbal medicines. This is because Asda Constipation Relief Tablets can affect the way some other medicines work. Also, some other medicines can affect the way Asda Constipation Relief Tablets work.
In particular, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking:
• Water tablets (diuretics) such as bendrofluazide or furosemide (frusemide)
• Steroid medicines such as prednisolone.
If you are not sure if any of the above applies to you, talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Asda Constipation Relief Tablets.
Pregnancy and breast feeding
Talk to your pharmacist or doctor before taking Asda Constipation Relief Tablets if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant or are breast feeding.
Driving and using machines
Some people may feel dizzy or faint while taking this medicine. If this happens to you, wait until these feelings go away before driving or using machines.
Asda Constipation Relief Tablets contain lactose and sucrose
The tablets contain a small amount of lactose and sucrose in each tablet. Patients with rare hereditary problems of fructose intolerance, glucose-galactose malabsorption or sucrase-isomaltase insufficiency should not take this medicine.
If you have an intolerance to some sugars, contact your doctor before taking this medicine.
Always take this medicine exactly as described in this leaflet or as your doctor or pharmacist has told you. Check with your pharmacist if you are not sure.
• Swallow the tablets whole with water. The tablets should not be chewed or crushed.
• Milk, antacids or proton pump inhibitors (medicines which reduce stomach acid) should! not be taken within one hour before or after taking Asda Constipation Relief Tablets. This is because they will stop the Asda Constipation Relief Tablets from working properly.
Continued over page
For constipation:
Adults (including the elderly) and children over |10 years: 1 to 2 tablets at night.
Length of treatment
These tablets should not be used every day for more than 5 days. If you need laxatives every day, then you should see your doctor to find the cause of your constipation.
If you take more Asda Constipation Relief Tablets than you should
It may be harmful to
• Take too much of Asda Constipation Relief Tablets or
k Take Asda Constipation Relief Tablets for too long
This is because taking too much for too long Imay lead to:
- A 'lazy bowel', where the muscle in the bowel becomes too relaxed. This means that bowel emptying happens less often. This can lead to long-term constipation.
- Imbalance of fluid and salts in the body.
This can affect the tightness of muscles such as those in the bowel. It can also affect the salts in the blood.
- Low levels of potassium in the blood (called 'hypo-kalaemia'). This can make you tired, dizzy, make your muscles weak and cause an uneven heart-beat.
- Dehydration, making you thirsty, feel faint and giving you headaches. It can also mean you cannot pass enough urine.
If you take more of this medicine than you should, talk to a doctor or go to a hospital straight away. Take the medicine pack with you, this is so the doctor knows what you have taken.
Ilf you have any questions on the use of this product, ask your pharmacist or doctor.
n POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS
Like all medicines, Asda Constipation Relief Tablets can cause side effects although not everybody gets them. The following side effects imay happen with this medicine:
Rare side effects (affect less than 1 in 1000 people)
• Severe allergic reactions which may cause swelling of the face or throat and difficulty in breathing or dizziness. If you have a severe allergic reaction, stop taking this medicine and see a doctor straight away.
• Colitis (inflammation of the large intestine which causes abdominal pain and diarrhoea)
• Dehydration
• Allergic reactions which may cause a skin rash
• Fainting
Uncommon side effects (affect less than 1 in 100 people)
k Blood in the stools
• Vomiting
p_ Abdominal discomfort _
• Discomfort inside and around theUack passage!
• Dizziness
Common side effects (affect less than 1 in 10 people)
• Abdominal cramps or pain
• Diarrhoea
• Nausea
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme, website: www.mhra.aov.uk/vellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children
• Do not take Asda Constipation Relief Tablets after the expiry date which is stated on the carton and blister after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month • Do not store above 25°C • Keep the blister within the outer carton • Do not throw away any medicines via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to throw away medicines you no longer use. These measures will help protect the environment.
What Asda Constipation Relief Tablets contain
The active ingredient (the ingredient which makes this medicine work) is bisacodyl.
Each tablet contains 5mg of bisacodyl.
The tablets also contain: lactose, maize starch, cellulose acetate phthalate, diethyl phthalate, sucrose, povidone, magnesium stearate, pregelatinised maize starch, talc, E171 (titanium dioxide) and E104 (quinoline yellow).
What your tablets look like and the contents of the pack
Asda Constipation Relief Tablets are round yellow, sugar-coated tablets.
They are packed in cylindrical plastic containers or cartons containing blister strips.
Both pack types contain 8, 10, 20 or 40 tablets. If you want to know more about your medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist who can give you more information.
Marketing authorisation holder and manufacturer
Dr. Reddy's Laboratories (UK) Limited 6 Riverview Road, Beverley East Yorkshire, HU17 OLD
This leaflet was revised in December 2014
Asda Constipation Relief Tablets


text:
What are Operating Expenses?
Operating expenses are the costs to a firm of activities not connected directly with the primary activity of the business. They are the expense of carrying on the day- to-day activities that do not involve production or sales.
How do Operating Expenses Work in a Business?
A business, for example a grocery store, incurs operating expenses distinct from those involved in the primary activity of the store, which is selling groceries. The store keeps an account of their operating expenses and the list may include such items as:
- Rent
- Repairs to a building or equipment
- Payroll
- Travel costs
- Pension contributions
- Employee benefits such as health insurance
- Accountancy and legal fees
- Property taxes
- Utility costs
- Office supplies
- Advertising
There may be more such expenses depending on the nature of the store's business. Operating costs may add up to a hefty total and the storeowner should consider all operating expenses before going into business. Many people consider them as costs to the store before even opening the doors and indicate the minimum income the store will need to generate in becoming a viable business.
Managing Operating Costs of a Business
All operating costs will need paying, regardless of whether the store is open or closed. The storeowner must also budget for when a store closes over holidays or in the event of an emergency such as a fire or flood. The storeowner will also have to consider how to reduce the operating costs of the store without impacting directly on the smooth running of the business.
A storeowner may look to reduce operating costs by cutting down on payroll, say cutting sales staff from five to four, with the direct result of substantial reduction in salary costs. A downside to this is that there will be less people selling, delays in helping customers or even a need to increase security with fewer eyes on the store sales area. The store may lose business as a result and sometimes the loss may outstrip the initial savings of reducing the payroll bill. With there being a limit on the cutting of operating costs before feeling a negative effect, the store may consider trying to increase revenue as an alternative. Reducing the bottom line of costs may affect the good name of the store while a small increase in prices may be understandable if the quality of goods in store stay the same.


text:
WINFIELD, W.Va. (AP) -- A judge gave final approval Friday to a settlement between chemical manufacturer Monsanto Co. and thousands of West Virginia residents over pollution claims.
Circuit Judge Derek Swope in Putnam County approved the settlement in a 385-page order.
A $93 million settlement was reached last February with residents who said Monsanto polluted their community by burning waste from production of the defoliant Agent Orange.
St. Louis-based Monsanto had agreed to pay up to $84 million for medical monitoring and $9 million to clean up 4,500 homes. Monsanto also agreed to pay legal fees.
The litigation began with a lawsuit by plant workers in the mid-1980s. Cases involving current and former residents were consolidated into a class-action lawsuit in 2008.
Swope dismissed objections to the settlement, calling it an "all or nothing" approval. Some class members had argued the settlement wasn't fair and reasonable.
"Any objection that asserts that the settlements could have been better must be rejected because the question is not whether the actual settlements could have been better, but whether the actual settlements are fair, adequate, and reasonable," Swope wrote.
The Monsanto plant in Nitro produced herbicides, rubber products and other chemicals. The plant's production of the defoliant Agent Orange created dioxin as a toxic chemical byproduct.
Dioxin has been linked to cancer, birth defects, learning disabilities, endometriosis, infertility and suppressed immune functions. It builds up in tissue over time, so even small exposures can accumulate to dangerous levels.
The Nitro plant closed in 2004.
Swope, a Mercer County circuit judge, was appointed by the state Supreme Court to preside in the case when Putnam County Circuit Judge O.C. Spaulding stepped aside after being diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease.


text:
This article is more than 1 year old
EMC buys NetWitness after its impressive hack smackdown
Like Viktor Kiam, so impressed with tech that it bought firm
EMC has announced its acquisition of network security monitoring and analysis platform outfit NetWitness. Financial terms of the deal, announced Monday, were undisclosed.
NetWitness helped EMC's RSA division in the aftermath of the latter's high profile hack last month. Post acquisition, NetWitness will become a core component of RSA's advanced security management products and services group.
Upcoming tech from NetWitness includes Spectrum, a product designed to replicate the knowledge, process and workflow of malware analysts. The technology is designed to foil strains of so-called zero-day malware, strains of Trojan malware not yet detected by anti-virus software. ®


text:
- Home
- Our Community
- Community
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- Crime Prevention Tips
- Identity Theft
- Missing Wallet / Purse & Online Shopping
Missing Wallet / Purse & Online Shopping
What to do when your wallet or purse is missing
Once you discover your wallet or credit cards are missing, immediately call the Police and file a report. If you find the items the next day, you can always cancel the report. Many people wait a day or two to, "see if it turns up."
That day or two is all a good identity thief needs to steal your identity and credit history.
Fraud Alert
You should also immediately place a fraud alert with all three national credit-reporting organizations and the Social Security Administration. Tell the organizations that your identity information has been stolen and instruct them to contact you by the telephone to authorize any new credit.
Once a thief steals your credit cards or wallet, s/he will quickly do two things: send a change of address information to your existing credit cards so you will not receive the bills showing the items they charged; and apply for new lines of credit under your name using your reputation to approve the credit line.
By the time most victims discover what has happened, the damage to their credit history has already been done. For some victims it takes months and even years to straighten out bad credit reports.
Online shopping
You can prevent problems before they occur by using some common sense tips:
- Do business with companies you know and trust. Before you give credit card information make sure you know who is receiving it. Many Internet auction sites are just brokers for private dealers. Check the reputation of the dealer before deciding if the purchase is worth the risk.
- Use a secure browser. Normally you will see an icon of a padlock near the bottom of your screen when a secure browser is being used. A secure browser limits the chance that a computer hacker can break into on your transaction and capture your account information.
- Be wary of "free prizes" and other sign ups on the Internet that require personal information from you. An identity thief may use that claim to get you to divulge information needed to steal your identity.
Anne Marie Buck
Police Services LiaisonPhone: 952-548-6407
Police Department
Physical Address
1010 1st Street S
City Hall
Hopkins, MN 55343
Phone: 952-938-8885Emergency Phone: 911
24/7 Dispatch: 952-258-5321


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Southwestern Monsoon
Southwestern Monsoon
Arizona and New Mexico receive up to half of their annual rainfall during the summer monsoon (Figure 1). The monsoon season suppresses much of the hot summer temperatures, replenishes water resources, and nourishes the vegetation. The monsoon arrives with much flash and fanfare, with its trademark thunderstorms and flooded streets in southwestern cities. Monsoon rainfall events tend to be short and spotty, with intense, local storms drenching some neighborhoods but not others. The water the storms bring quickly flows off the landscape into streets and rivers, with much of the remnant moisture evaporating in the summer sun.
The monsoon is driven by the sun heating up the land and the Pacific Ocean at different rates, with land surfaces warming more quickly than the ocean. The warm land creates low-pressure zones as hot air rises. Once this pattern establishes across the region, the winds shift to fill in the vacuum. With this shift in the winds, the monsoon begins in northern Mexico in May. The moisture-laden monsoon air travels north to Arizona and New Mexico, encouraged by the pressure difference between the hot, parched southwestern air and the cooler Mexican air. In 2008, National Weather Service officials decided to consider June 15–September 30 as the U.S. Southwest monsoon season in Arizona, although the thunderstorms that bring the rain may form in different times and places across the region.
The monsoon's driving rains are most dramatic in southeast Arizona and in western New Mexico, tapering off in Phoenix and Yuma, AZ (Figure 2). In addition to being variable in space, some years produce weak monsoons, while others provide ample rain. There are no evident trends in annual monsoon strength, making it difficult to predict. This variable tendency has been consistent over the past 100 years when record keeping generally began.
A number of factors affect the monsoon. El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) can have a strong impact, with El Niño events often bringing more moisture up from the Gulf of Mexico. Changes in tropical Pacific convection and temperature patterns in the Midwest are also factors that can influence the summer monsoon.
Along with the relief that the summer monsoon provides to the region, it also brings flash floods, dust storms, strong winds, lightning, and dangerous fires that can harm people and property. In the Southwest, lightning has ignited more than 2,300 fires annually since 2001, burning approximately 277,000 acres per year. For much of the Southwest, the monsoon season sparks the fire season but also can bring the fire season to a close after the first few weeks of rainfall.
The monsoon brings rains that can help reverse the downward draw from reservoirs; it is also important to farmers who depend on natural rainfall. The monsoon fuels the growth of summer grasses, which can make or break southwestern ranchers struggling to eke out a living in harsh desert lands. Southwest summers can be especially harsh in years when the monsoon falters, leaving shriveled plants and baked soil in its wake.
For more seasonal information, check out a few posts on our blog:
Figure 1. Percent of average annual precipitation that falls in the West between July and August. Figure courtesy of Western Regional Climate Center, based on PRISM data produced at Oregon State University.


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BLM NEWS — Drought conditions across the West have impacted rangelands, leaving little water and forage for animals and livestock, prompting the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to undertake targeted actions, such as providing supplemental water and food for wild horses; reducing grazing; and enacting fire restrictions.
Hot, dry conditions continue to persist west of the Mississippi River, with at least 15 states experiencing drought. For example, 93 percent of rangeland and pastures are rated poor or very poor in New Mexico; 59 percent in Colorado; 35 percent in Wyoming; and 17 percent in Utah. Similar conditions exist in Nevada, where more than 60 percent of the state has been in severe or extreme drought conditions since the beginning of 2013.
"Since last fall and winter, we have been working with grazers across the West in anticipation of tough conditions related to drought. In southwestern Montana, for example, the BLM worked with permitted ranchers to graze no more than 70 percent of their alloted forage on BLM-managed lands," said BLM Principal Deputy Director Neil Kornze. "As drought conditions continue, wild horses, livestock, and wildlife that rely on rangeland forage and water will face extremely challenging conditions that may leave them in very poor condition. We are taking action to address these situations as quickly and as effectively as we can, but our options are increasingly limited by conditions on the land."
In Nevada, all BLM Districts have been hauling water to wild horses. There, the BLM is trucking 5,000 gallons of water per day, five days a week to four separate locations throughout the Winnemucca District at a cost of $1,000 per day.
In the next few days, a USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service veterinarian will join BLM specialists in assessing horses in Lincoln County, Nev., after BLM employees noted that horses were not drinking water from trucked-in troughs and were not eating supplemental hay. This raised concerns about the health of the animals.
Over the past week in Nevada, average temperatures have been 10 degrees above normal, hovering around 100 degrees. The state has recently had only 0.1 to 0.5 inches of rain, resulting in sparse, poor-quality forage. In addition, scarce water sources have put pressure on all users, including wild horses, livestock, and wildlife; causing long-lasting damage to plants, stream channels, spring areas, and water quality.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land, the most of any Federal agency. This land, known as the National System of Public Lands, is primarily located in 12 Western states, including Alaska. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. The BLM's multiple-use mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations. In Fiscal Year 2012, activities on public lands generated $4.6 billion in revenue, much of which was shared with the States where the activities occurred. In addition, public lands contributed more than $112 billion to the U.S. economy and helped support more than 500,000 jobs.


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This striking leather jacket is sure to become the favorite in your collection. Pair with jeans for a fun girls night, or dress up with a skirt and heels for a beautiful look. All our genuine leather Jackets have an ageless attitude and a slim and ultra modern fit.
- Outer: Genuine Lambskin Leather
- Front Lining Top: 100% cotton, Front Lining Bottom: 100% polyester
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- Two slip-in hand pockets
- Fully lined interior for warmth
- Professional leather cleaner only; do not self clean
- In house made by Jemison Leather team.
It takes us two weeks to make a jacket on order and ship. For custom orders, please contact email@example.com and provide your body measurements.


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Infertility is often treated as a woman's problem, but male factors alone are responsible for one-third of reproductive challenges, and a combination of male and female factors account for another third.
"Frequently, I have infertile couples in my office, and the woman has already been through major procedures, but the man has never been tested," says Dr. Marc Goldstein, director of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Microsurgery at the Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York. "Often, I can tell what the problem is with a basic male exam or sperm analysis."
We asked Dr. Goldstein for his take on the most significant — and surprising — threats to male reproductive health.
Heat. You may have heard to avoid hot tubs and saunas if you're trying to conceive, and that's true—sperm cannot survive high temperatures, so prolonged heat exposure can affect production and quality. "The reason a man's testicles are hanging outside the body is to keep them cooler," Dr. Goldstein says.
But a more widely used source of heat is also a danger: laptops. A study published in the journal Fertility and Sterility last fall found that after 10-15 minutes of holding a computer in their laps, men's scrotal temperatures were higher than a fertility-safe range.
Men should also check for varicose veins in their scrotum, a seemingly innocuous condition that can, in fact, keep sperm too warm. The veins are typically visible after a warm bath or shower, from a standing position.
The good news about infertility related to heat is that it is reversible. Since new sperm is generated every three months, sperm quality should improve in about that period of time after the heat-generating condition or behavior is stopped.
Your medical history. "The most common operation in male children aside from circumcision is hernia surgery," says Dr. Goldstein. "That operation can result in an accidental vasectomy." Having had undescended testicles, on one or both sides, at any point in a man's life can also affect his fertility, as can cancer, especially if treated with chemotherapy.
Medications. Recent headlines linking over-the-counter painkillers, especially in certain combinations, to male infertility have in fact referred to the use of the drugs by pregnant women, which European researchers suspect may increase the risk of giving birth to a boy with undescended testicles. But while adult men needn't worry about their own over-the-counter painkiller use just yet, there are other medications that can inhibit fertility, including commonly prescribed anti-depressants. Besides the diminished sex drive many people experience as a side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), a common class of anti-depressants, SSRIs can also lower testosterone and sperm count, making conception more difficult.
"Men who are taking these should talk to their psychiatrist and see if there are any alternatives," Dr. Goldstein says. In fact, it's a good idea to let all your doctors know you're trying to conceive as a matter of course, so they can adjust any of your medications if need be.
Age. It's not nearly as significant a factor in men as in women, and it's not as crucial as the other factors mentioned, but sperm quality and testosterone do slowly decline as men age. Children born to fathers older than age 45 also have an increased risk of Down syndrome, schizophrenia and autism.
Weight. As is the case for women, excess weight in men has been shown to inhibit fertility. One reason, surprisingly, goes back to heat: Having a lot of fat surrounding the thighs can keep the groin area too warm.
But there's also the matter of hormonal balance. Two hormones crucial to fertility in both men and women are FSH and LH, and they're produced by the pituitary gland. "These are fat soluble hormones, and they have to get down to your testicles," says Dr. Goldstein. In heavier people, the hormones can be absorbed by fat in the body before they reach the reproductive organs.
Plastics and cellphones. Research on these two threats is still in its infancy, but the preliminary evidence based on animal studies is compelling enough that Dr. Goldstein recommends his patients avoid carrying their cell phones in their front pockets, and reduce their use of plastic food wrap containing phthalates.


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Latest Article|September 3, 2020|Free
::Making Grown Men Cry Since 1992
1 min read
Anthropologists have discovered cacao residue in pottery unearthed at Chaco Canyon, raising questions about how and when the tropical bean got here, and how our Southwestern ancestors made use of the stuff. (My money's on chocolate fry bread, but maybe that's just wishful thinking.) Join the Maxwell Museum of Anthropology for A Place at Mother Earth's Table, two days of thought- and hunger-provoking topics on food and culture. Friday opens up with an expert's take on the Chaco-cacao mystery at 7 p.m. in UNM's Anthropology Lecture Hall 163. Saturday brings a discussion of coffee, tea and chocolate beverages at 2 p.m. (same hall), followed by a tasting of of modern beverages that use ancient ingredients at 3 p.m. in Hibben Center. Visit unm.edu/~maxwell or call 277-4405 for more details.


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Found 2 results
Filters: Author is Lefèvre, C. [Clear All Filters]
Dust properties inside molecular clouds from coreshine modeling and observations,
, \aap, Volume 572, p.A20, (2014)
Evolution of dust properties inside molecular clouds from coreshine modelling,
, Proceedings of The Life Cycle of Dust in the Universe: Observations, Theory, and Laboratory Experiments (LCDU2013). 18-22 November, 2013. Taipei, Taiwan. Editors: Anja Andersen (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), Maarten Baes (Universiteit Gent, Belgium), p.148, (2013)


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Now that we've created an example daemon, it's time to fire it up! I'm going to assume the name of your daemon is logparser. This can be changed with the statement:
System_Daemon::setOption("appName", "logparser")
But the name of the daemon is very important because it is also used in filenames (like the logfile).
Execute Just make your daemon script executable, and then execute it:
chmod a+x ./logparser.php ./logparser.php
Check Your daemon has no way of communicating through your console, so check for messages in:
tail /var/log/logparser.log
And see if it's still running:
ps uf -C logparser.php
Kill Without the start/stop files (see below for howto), you need to:
killall -9 logparser.php
Autch.. Let's work on those start / stop files, right?
Start / Stop files (Debian & Ubuntu only) Real daemons have an init.d file. Remember you can restart Apache with the following statement?
/etc/init.d/apache2 restart
That's a lot better than killing. So you should be able to control your own daemon like this as well:
/etc/init.d/logparser stop /etc/init.d/logparser start
Well with System_Daemon you can write autostartup files using the writeAutoRun() method, look:
$path = System_Daemon::writeAutoRun();
On success, this will return the path to the autostartup file: /etc/init.d/logparser, and you're good to go!
Run on boot Surely you want your daemon to run at system boot.. So on Debian & Ubuntu you could type:
update-rc.d logparser defaults
Done your daemon now starts every time your server boots. Cancel it with:
update-rc.d -f logparser remove


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The Presentation
The bishops and people sit. Representatives of the diocese, both Priests and Lay Persons, standing before the Presiding Bishop, present the bishop-elect, saying
N., Bishop in The Episcopal Church of God, the clergy and people of the Diocese of N., trusting in the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and in our ability to choose the candidate who makes us most comfortable with ourselves, have chosen N.N. to be a bishop and chief pastor. We therefore ask you to lay your hands upon him and in the power of the Holy Spirit to consecrate him a bishop in The one, holy, catholic, and apostolicEpiscopal Church.
The Presiding Bishop then directs that testimonials of the election be read.
When the reading of the testimonials is ended, the Presiding Bishop requires the following promise from the Bishop-elect
In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, I, N.N., chosen Bishop of the Church in N., solemnly declare that I do believe the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God, except when they declare things I know to be contrary to our modern experience, and to contain all many things necessary to our collective (and not individual) salvation; and I do solemnly engage to conform to the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church as declared and defined from time to time by her Reverence, our Presiding Bishop.
The Bishop-elect then signs the above Declaration in the sight of all present. The witnesses add their signatures.
All stand.
The Presiding Bishop then says the following, or similar words, and asks the response of the people
Brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, you have heard testimony given that N.N. has been duly and lawfully elected to be a bishop of the Church of God to serve in the Diocese of N. You have been assured us of his suitability and you know that the Church has approved him for this sacred responsibility. Nevertheless, if any of you know any reason why we should not proceed, let it now be made known.
If no objection is made, the Presiding Bishop continues
Is it your will that we ordain N. a bishop?
The People respond in these or other words
Presiding Bishop
The People respond in these or other words
All kneel, and the Person appointed leads the Litany for Ordinations, or some other approved litany. At the end of the litany, after the Kyries, the Presiding Bishop stands and reads the Collect for the Day, or the following Collect, or both, first saying
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquillity the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, those who were excluded are being included, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom
The Ministry of the Word
40:1 I relied completely on the Lord,
and he turned toward me
and heard my cry for help.
40:2 He lifted me out of the watery pit,
out of the slimy mud.
He placed my feet on a rock
and gave me secure footing.
40:3 He gave me reason to sing a new song,
praising our God.
May many see what God has done,
so that they might swear allegiance to him and trust in the Lord!
40:4 How blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord
and does not seek help from the proud or from liars!
40:5 O Lord, my God, you have accomplished many things;
you have done amazing things and carried out your purposes for us.
No one can thwart you!
I want to declare them and talk about them,
but they are too numerous to recount!
40:6 Receiving sacrifices and offerings are not your primary concern.
You make that quite clear to me!
You do not ask for burnt sacrifices and sin offerings.
40:7 Then I say,
"Look! I come!
What is written in the scroll pertains to me.
40:8 I want to do what pleases you, my God.
Your law dominates my thoughts."
40:9 I have told the great assembly about your justice.
Look! I spare no words!
O Lord, you know this is true.
40:10 I have not failed to tell about your justice;
I spoke about your reliability and deliverance;
I have not neglected to tell the great assembly about your loyal love and faithfulness.
40:11 O Lord, you do not withhold your compassion from me.
May your loyal love and faithfulness continually protect me!
40:12 For innumerable dangers surround me.
My sins overtake me
so I am unable to see;
they outnumber the hairs of my head
so my strength fails me.
40:13 Please be willing, O Lord, to rescue me!
O Lord, hurry and help me!
40:14 May those who are trying to snatch away my life
be totally embarrassed and ashamed!
May those who want to harm me
be turned back and ashamed!
40:15 May those who say to me, "Aha! Aha!"
be humiliated and disgraced!
40:16 May all those who seek you be happy and rejoice in you!
May those who love to experience your deliverance say continually,
"May the Lord be praised!"
40:17 I am oppressed and needy!
May the Lord pay attention to me!
3:1 This saying is trustworthy: "If someone aspires to the office of bishop, he desires a good work." 3:2 The bishop then must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, an able teacher, [pause for laughter] 3:3 not a drunkard, not violent, but gentle, not contentious, free from the love of money. [Pause for great laughter.] 3:4 He must manage his own household well and keep his children in control without losing his dignity. [Pause for a consecrating bishop to interject: "I'd like to have a word with whoever it was who selected this reading."] 3:5 But if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for the church of God? 3:6 He must not be a recent convert or he may become arrogant and fall into the punishment that the devil will exact. 3:7 And he must be well thought of by those outside the faith, so that he may not fall into disgrace and be caught by the devil's trap. [Wait for laughter to die down before continuing.]
People Glory to you, Lord Christ.
24:44 Then he said to them, "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled." 24:45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the scriptures, 24:46 and said to them, "Thus it stands written that the Christ would suffer and would rise from the dead on the third day, 24:47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 24:48 You are witnesses of these things. 24:49 And look, I am sending you what my Father promised. [Pause for consecrating bishop to interject: "That's more like it."]
Broadly speaking, the Episcopal Church is in conflict with Scripture. The only way to justify it is to say, well, Jesus talks about the Spirit guiding the church and guiding believers and bringing to their awareness things they cannot deal with yet . . . this has led the church to in effect contradict the words of the Gospel.
The Examination
All now sit, except the bishop-elect, who stands facing the bishops. The Presiding Bishop addresses the bishop-elect
Bishop Will you accept this call and fulfill this trust in obedience to Christ?
Bishop Will you be faithful in prayer, and in the study of Holy Scripture, that you may have the mind of Christ?
Bishop As a chief priest and pastor, will you encourage and support all baptized people in their gifts and ministries, nourish them from the riches of God's grace, pray for them without ceasing, and celebrate with them the sacraments of our redemption, making provision for a generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church? [Here the Bishop may wink twice.]
Answer I will, in the name of Christ, the Shepherd and Bishop of our souls. [Winks back.]
Bishop Will you share with your fellow bishops in the government of the whole Church; will you sustain your fellow presbyters and take counsel with them, using indaba techniques wherever possible; will you guide and strengthen the deacons and all others who minister in the Church?
Answer I will, by the grace given me.
Bishop Will you be merciful to all, show compassion to the poor and strangers with appropriate placards, take tea with the Queen at Lambeth, and defend those who have no helper?
All stand. The Presiding Bishop then says


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The government-protected shorebirds of Rockaway have begun their annual nesting, just as they would if Hurricane Sandy had never swept through there six months ago.
Some of the birds have nested on an 11-block stretch of beach that the urban park rangers close off each spring as a breeding sanctuary. Others have settled in a debris-strewn patch of sand outside the preserve and just across the street from a huge housing development that was begun when such a storm as Sandy had not seemed possible.
"They don't know any better," a park ranger whose nameplate read Billak said.
He was speaking of the birds, as he stood by one of the perimeters of bright orange string on green metal stakes that the rangers set up along with a RESTRICTED AREA sign around each nesting place they discover outside the sanctuary. This particular spot was occupied by an oystercatcher so sensitive to the approach of humans that it had walked off past a surviving patch of boardwalk that mighty Sandy had lifted and tossed aside. The red-billed bird had been trying to draw attention away from a shallow indentation in the sand—known as a scrape—that serves as its nest. Two gray and black speckled eggs were inside, looking perilously delicate, surrounded by bits of metal, brick, concrete, rock, wood, and glass.
But the ranger could have been speaking of the people who were continuing construction of the Averne by the Sea development—as if such a storm could not come again. The developer had erected a big sign amid the sawing and hammering.
1 & 2 Family Homes For Sale"
Unless you knew better, you might have thought the ranger was also speaking of the many residents of Rockaway who have chosen to rebuild despite having even less protection from the ocean since Sandy swept away much of the boardwalk and the sea wall along the beach.
Only, these Rockaway people do not remain because they don't know any better. They stay in seeming defiance of common sense because of an uncommon sense of who they are individually and collectively, and how that is rooted in the very special place they all share. It is a sense that was only intensified by Sandy as the storm surge was met by uncommon heroism, kindness, generosity, and neighborliness.
"This is a Rockaway story," said retired FDNY Chief of Department Pete Hayden just after the storm passed. "Now we're really never going to leave."
This soul-deep feeling of home is clearly shared by other shore communities that were struck by Sandy. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported Friday that there had been few takers on his offer to purchase storm-damaged homes at pre-Sandy prices plus a premium. Cuomo had made the offer with the hope that people in threatened areas would heed Sandy as a warning of more extreme weather to come as a result of global warming.
"It's up to the homeowner, and the vast bulk of homeowners are deciding to stay right where they are and rebuild," Cuomo now said.
One Rockaway resident whose home had been completely destroyed and yet eschewed an offer of a premium price for what was now only bare sand was FDNY Lt. Tommy Woods of Beach 130th Street. His block had been struck by a hurricane-driven fire along with the storm surge, and he and his 14-year-old son, Brendan, had rescued his 82 year-old mother by placing her on a surfboard. They had taken her five blocks through hellish darkness, fighting the surge's current and dodging debris and flaming firebrands. They then returned with a kayak and were assisted by other off-duty firefighters in rescuing a neighbor who has multiple sclerosis.
Afterwards, Woods avoided any talk of his heroism, instead speaking of how brave and caring and helpful his neighbors were. He stood on a street that had been all but destroyed—and said he could conceive of no better place to live. His son's own quiet courage seemed proof that this was also the best of places to raise a kid.
Six months after the storm, the arrival of the new mailman there continues to be a reminder that the most uncommon of mailman, Rick Gold, was killed in the storm. And full subway service has still not been restored. And the public library branch is still not open although a sign in the window says it is only "closed temporarily while storm damage is repaired." So far, only a tiny portion of the boardwalk has been partly replaced and new sand will not be pumped onto the beach until after the summer season has already started.
But affirmation of the Rockaway spirit came last week with word that Woods will be named this year's recipient of the FDNY's James Gordon Bennett Medal, the department's oldest and highest award, for "the most outstanding act of heroism." He will be the first person in its 144 years ever to receive the medal for actions while off-duty. He, of course, made no mention of it to anybody, allowing to his mother that he had won something, but giving her no idea of the magnitude of the honor.
By the time Woods was told of the honor, the charred remains of his house had been carted away. All that was left was an indentation in the sand that looks like an out-sized version of those scrapes on the beach where the oystercatchers, piping plovers, and terns nest every year.
To look at where Woods will be rebuilding on Beach 130th Street and then at where that oystercatcher is nesting by Beach 67th Street is to wonder if maybe the shorebirds actually do know better—if they too possess an uncommon sense of who they are and where they want to start their kids in the world.
If the government can protect the nests of the shorebirds as they follow their instincts, then it should do no less for the shorepeople who are rebuilding. It will, of course, take much more than string.
The government can start with seawalls.
It might even follow common sense and do something real about global warming.